November 2016.The borders kill.

After the jump in Ceuta where more than 200 people crossed on the 31th of October, the repression the repression is intense. And yet the borders are not impossible to cross as the EU and Morocco want them to be. Many pateras arrived in Spain this month, and several people have died or are badly injured after their attempt to cross.
The borders kill !

31/10
232 bozas in one day!
https://beatingborders.wordpress.com/2016/11/14/232-bozas-in-one-day/

01/11

Almeria
7 bozas by Maghrebians
http://www.europapress.es/andalucia/almeria-00350/noticia-llegan-puerto-almeria-siete-varones-magrebies-rescatados-buen-estado-salud-20161101193853.html

Repression
AMDH (Moroccan Human Rights Association) – Nador Section (translated from French):
“Arrests of migrants continue in Nador. The number reached around twenty who were all deported in a bus yesterday the 1st of November around 5.30pm.”

02/11
Four pateras rescued by Salvamento Maritimo
Salvamento Maritimo (translated from Spanish):
“4 #pateras rescued by Salvamar Mimosa 12 miles from Cabo de Palos. 11 people transferred to Cartagena.

Motril
51 bozas
http://www.granadadigital.es/rescatan-una-patera-con-51-inmigrantes-a-20-millas-al-oeste-de-la-isla-de-alboran/

Gran Canaria
57 bozas

April 2016 A non-exhaustive summary.

Despite the repressive system getting more and more intense, with all the raids in the forests, the mass arrests, the interceptions of boats and regular push-backs, the deportation of migrants to the south and the construction of new fences – the number of migrants who arrived at the spanish coasts in april is highly impressive!

The route to the Canary Islands:

The arrivals by boat increased and especially the way to the Canary Islands should be mentioned. In 2015 the was a notable increase of interceptions on this way, almost 844 people, which is the triple of the number in the report of APDH in 2014.

The death toll rose 48% in 2015 at the Morrocan/Spanish border…

After an andalusian organization concerning the loss of life at sea, the deaths have also escalated: 195 people died trying to reach Spain, 113 of them missing. This is 48% higher than the year before.

http://www.eldiario.es/andalucia/Frontera-Sur_0_507449552.html

http://www.eldiario.es/desalambre/inmigrantes-ahogados-Estrecho-nadie-rescatara_0_508499407.html

http://www.eldiario.es/desalambre/inmigrantes-ahogados-Estrecho-nadie-rescatara_0_508499407.html

http://entrefronteras.com/las-muertes-de-mgirantes-en-la-costa-andaluza-aumenta-un-50/

No system, as repressive and powerful it might be can stop migration!

Congratulations to all the Bozas and welcome!

03/04

Ceuta

8 boza

http://www.eldiario.es/politica/Localizan-patera-inmigrantes-estrecho-Gibraltar_0_501500215.html

Avril 2016: Résumé non exhaustif.

Malgré un système répressif de plus en plus intensif avec des ratissages de forêts, d’arrestations massives, d’interceptions de pateras et de « pushback » fréquents, de déportations de migrants vers le Sud, de construction de nouvelles barrières, le nombre de migrants ayant atteint les côtes Espagnol ce mois d’avril est impressionnant !

Le chemin des Canaries :Les Arrivées en bateau ont augmenté et, en particulier, met en évidence le chemin des Canaries. E n 2015, il y a eu une augmentation notable des interceptions sur cette voie pour atteindre le 844, près du triple du rapport annuel 2014 comprend l’APDH présenté

Et aussi 48 % de décès en plus en 2015 à la frontière Maroc/Espagne….

Selon le compte de l’organisation andalouse de la perte de la vie en mer, les décès ont également grimpé en flèche: 195 personnes sont mortes en essayant d’accéder à l’Espagne dont 113 corps disparus, 48% de plus que l’année précédente.

http://www.eldiario.es/andalucia/Frontera-Sur_0_507449552.html

http://www.eldiario.es/desalambre/inmigrantes-ahogados-Estrecho-nadie-rescatara_0_508499407.html

http://www.eldiario.es/desalambre/inmigrantes-ahogados-Estrecho-nadie-rescatara_0_508499407.html

http://entrefronteras.com/las-muertes-de-mgirantes-en-la-costa-andaluza-aumenta-un-50/

Aucun système répressif aussi performant qu’il soit, n’arrêtera jamais les migrations !

Bravo à tous les bozas et bienvenues !

03/04

Ceuta

8 boza

http://www.eldiario.es/politica/Localizan-patera-inmigrantes-estrecho-Gibraltar_0_501500215.html

et une patera avec 7 récupérés par marine marocaine Push Back?

http://www.eleconomista.es/legislacion/noticias/7464205/04/16/Localizan-una-patera-con-7-inmigrantes-en-aguas-del-estrecho-de-Gibraltar.html

04/04

Ceuta

10 Boza

http://ecodiario.eleconomista.es/espana/noticias/7467130/04/16/Diez-migrantes-de-Guinea-Conakry-llegan-a-Ceuta-en-una-patera-y-otros-dos-aparecen-en-la-Jefatura-Superior-de-la-Policia.html

04/04

Overview May and June

Following here a non-exhaustive list of crossing attempts and acts of repression at the borders in May and June 2015. The information sources are added if possible.

Mise à jour II des déportations en cours de migrants en provenance des forêts de Nador

Carte des nouveaux camps improvisés au Maroc

Engl

Esp

Ces derniers jours, l’État marocain a poursuivi sa campagne d’expulsions aux frontières de l’Union européenne, accompagnée d’une violence extrême et foulant aux pieds les droits des migrant(e)s et leurs libertés fondamentales.

Vendredi dernier, 13 Février, les autorités ont mené des rafles dans plusieurs forêts autour de Nador, au cours desquelles ils ont arrêté environ 200 personnes qui vivaient dans Baquoya, Afra, Bolingo et d’autres endroits autour de Nador. Parmi les détenu(e)s qui ont été également amené(e)s au camp de Akariat il y avait plusieurs femmes (certaines d’entre elles enceintes) et des enfants, plusieurs demandeurs d’asile et les détenteurs de documents. Beaucoup de tentes, de couvertures, de biens personnels et de nourriture ont été brûlés de sorte que les migrant(e)s qui ont échappé(e) aux rafles ont été contraint(e)s de se cacher dans le froid et manquent des besoins les plus élémentaires. . Certains sont déjà en train de reconstruire certains camps mais la crainte de plus de terreur de l’État reste élevée. En outre, plusieurs personnes ont été emprisonnées et sont accusée de trafic d’êtres humains – autre tentative d’accuser les migrant(e)s plutôt que de blâmer l’état capitaliste et ces systèmes de policiers-mafia-réseaux sous-jacents.

Comunicado sobre las deportaciones de personas migrantes que se están llevando a cabo desde las fronteras externalizadas de la Unión Europea

El martes 10 de febrero las autoridades marroquíes desplegaron una macro operación para arrestar a centenares de personas migrantes. Se abalanzaron sobre el monte Gurugú, destrozando y quemando el campamento y deteniendo alrededor de mil personas que fueron llevadas a campamentos improvisados. Sus fotos, huellas y nacionalidades han sido registradas.

Entre 20 y 30 buses salieron hacia el Sur de Marruecos y distribuyeron a lxs detenidxs del monte Gurugú por unas doce ciudades: Errachidia, Goulmina, El Jadida, Safi, Kelaat, Sraghna, Chichaoua, Tiznit, Essaouira, Youssoufia, Agadir.

Hasta ahora la mayoría de las personas permanecen encarceladas en diferentes edificios y estructuras, se les da comida y ropa.

A pesar de que se les comunica que van a ser liberadxs pronto y que el estado marroquí solo les está identificando para regularizarlxs, parece mas bien que van a ser deportadxs. Durante los últimos días se han llevado a cabo varios encuentros con embajadorxs y se ha proporcionado comida, refugio y ropa antes de las deportaciones.

Puede que sea difícil especular pero si las autoridades marroquíes solo quisieran alejar a las personas de la frontera no las retendrían durante 2 días (hasta ahora). Por el contrario es posible que se esté preparando la deportación a países de origen o incluso a Mauritania como algunxs afirman.

Esta mañana la policía hizo otra redada en el Gurugú, llenando 4 buses con detenidxs y quemando lo que quedaba en el campamento. El poblado camerunés está completamente destrozado, no queda casi nadie. Las demás comunidades también han corrido la misma suerte y decenas de sus hermanxs han sido deportadxs.

As 2014 ends, more migrants overcome the obstacles to arrive in Europe.

Some of the migrants have been living in Morocco for years. They wonder if they will live to see Europe, or if they will die trying.

Many have already been illegally pushed back, as well as being shot at, by Guardia Civil, Spanish police, after arriving within colonial Spanish territory on the African continent: Ceuta and Melilla. There is daily anguish at how hard life can be in Morocco, as the desperate and now cold conditions in forest camps isolate them from Moroccan communities around the Spanish cities. Others live in squats, rented apartments or small camps, in or next to an area, half-built, on the edge of Tanger.

2014 has been an unprecedented year for migration in Morocco. The 2013 migration reforms were said by many to be a sign of Morocco slowly coming to terms with migration changes. Its allying with the EU to increase the hardship of the border regime, now also increasing the numbers of Sub-Saharan migrants stuck in the country. Many migrants, though, have been sceptical, and seen the séjour citizenship as a dangerous option, that not only has a strong suggestion of empty promises, but also the risks of heavy sentences in Moroccan prisons, for either trying again to reach Europe, or for speaking out about cruelty received from agents of the Moroccan state. It is often perceived as an instrument of control, instead of one of support.

Informations de base sur Mellila

Melilla est une ville en territoire marocain qui appartient à l’Espagne. Historiquement, ce n’ était qu’un accord  militaire, mais dans la seconde moitié du XX siècle, la ville a grandi pour devenir le port commercial qu’elle est aujourd’hui. En dépit de cette évolution, Melilla maintient toujours un lien fort avec le passé colonial et  avec l’histoire fasciste de l’Espagne, car la plupart des généraux qui faisaient partie du coup d’Etat de 1936 ont passé une bonne partie de leurs vies militaires dans les colonies espagnoles marocaines . Preuve en est le nombre élevé de monuments et rues dédiées au régime franquiste, que vous pouvez encore voir aujourd’hui autour de Melilla.

Comme cette frontière est la seule frontière terrestre existante (à l’exception de Ceuta) entre l’Afrique et l’Europe,elle a souvent été  considéré comme un point d’entrée facile vers l’UE . Pour cette raison, la ville subit une forte pression migratoire depuis la fin des années nonante.

Dozens of migrants murdered by Spanish and Moroccan police in attempts to cross border in early February but over 200 enter in recent days

The 6th of February has become a common reference when talking about police brutality at the European border. On this day the Spanish Guardia Civil shocked many people by showing what means they are ready to put into practice in order to stop migration, this day leading to the death of at least 17 people. A group of Camerounese migrants, who were in the water that, have told us what they experienced that day. The following is a summary of their stories.

Early in the morning of the 6th of February a group of 400 migrants (mostly Camerounese) went down to the beach in Fnideq close to the border to Spain, and started swimming towards Ceuta. While doing so they were being attacked by Moroccan military police, but also Spanish police started to shoot with rubber bullets at the migrants while they were still at the Moroccan side, as well as at the people who made it to the Spanish side. They were shooting both directly at people and at the floating implements that some people needed because they were not able to swim. This caused several people to drown. Apart from that, there were Guardia Civil officers in a boat with a Spanish flag who were pumping tear-gas into the water as well as sailing over people.

There was a mass panic attack in the water when some migrants tried to continue making their way to Spain, while others tried to escape the bullets and tear gas by returning to the Moroccan side.
Officially 17 people are announced to be dead, but according to these Cameroonian people, more than 25 people died, and others are still missing.

Seconde mort violente au cours d’un raid de police à Tangers en deux mois : les migrants se lèvent.

Le quatre décembre est un jour dont beaucoup se souviendont ici à Tangers. Un raid de la police dans la région de Doha Boukhalef a causé la mort violente de Cédric, un homme camerounais. Les détails précis concernant sa mort restent obscurs mais son corps portait les traces de blessures à la tête qui lui ont été fatales. Il a été porté sur deux kilomètre de Doha Boukhalef en direction du centre ville dans un manifesation spontanée de la communauté des migrants. Se levant et prenant les rues par centaines, les migrants ont marché pour demander l’arrêt de morts, en portant le corps de Cédric afin que sa ne soit pas ignorée.

Ils ont réussi, et les affrontements entre la police et les maroccains racistes pendant la manifestation ont permis à la ville de réaliser l’horreur de ce qu’il s’était passé et se passe dans leur propre ville.Quand la police des émeutes a bloqué la route, les migrants ont forcé le passage les uns après les autres, et la police les a pourchassé avec des pierres et la foule les a chargé. Plus d’un millier de jeunes hommes marocains se sont rassemblés pour regarder, et quelques groupes ont attaqué la marche avec des pierres à maintes reprise. Les migrants, des passants marocains et un chef de police ont été touchés par ces missiles.

Second death from police raids in Tanger in two months, Migrants Rise Up

The 4th of December was a day that will be remembered by many here in Tanger. A police raid in the Doha Boukhalef region caused the violent death of Cédric, a man from Cameroon. Exact details remain unclear but his body bearing fatal head wounds was carried over 2km from Doha Boukhalef in the direction of the city centre in a spontaneous manifestation by the migrant community.

Rising up and taking the streets in their hundreds, migrants marched demanding these deaths stop, carrying his body aloft so as not to let his death be ignored. They succeeded in their goal, and the clashes with police and racist Moroccans during the manifestation ensured that the city paid attention to what evil things had occurred in their own city.

When riot police blocked their path migrants broke through their lines time after time, and had the police on the run with stones and crowd charges. Well over a thousand young Moroccan men gathered to watch and some groups of them attacked the march with stones many times. Migrants, Moroccan bystanders and a chief of police were hit by these missiles.

Migrants made their message loud and clear last night, showing fearless resolve and strength. By the sheer power of their manifestation they forced this issue into the national news ensuring this cannot be kept quiet. Outnumbered and against all odds they stood strong and made their message loud and clear.

AFP report on migrants in Morocco

Tangiers: Migrant house attacked and looted

A migrant house in the area of Houmat Chouk, a poor neighbourhood in the south-east of Tangier, was violently attacked last night, Tuesday 12^th November. Two Senegalese men were hurt in the confrontations, during which local Moroccans swarmed and entered the house threatening with knives and other weapons.

Death of Senegalese in police raid called ‘accidental’

The Senegalese Consulate in Rabat has backed the Moroccan authorities’ version of the events which led to the death of Moussa Seck, who died during a police raid of a house in Tangier on October 10^th.

Migrants in Tangier see a tendency for the Senegalese Consulate to back the Moroccan authorities. This time the decision came despite witness statements that Moussa had been beaten by police before falling from a fourth floor window, and that the exact circumstances of how he came to fall are doubted.

It signals the end of the official response to the 24-year-old’s tragic death. The Moroccan authorities also evaded questioning about why police forces routinely raid the homes of sub-Saharan migrants, operations widely reported as involving violence and theft, and during which four people have died so far this year.

Link: http://www.yabiladi.com/articles/details/20258/deces-senegalais-tanger-consulat-confirme.html

Migrant dies in police raid

On the 10th of October 2013, another regular morning police raid was underway in a migrant house on the outskirts of Tangier. The police broke in through the front door and stormed through the building, waking everybody inside. The residents, being quite accustomed to this kind of treatment, took their time without panic.

Witnesses in the building claim that one resident, Musa Secky, was found in the bathroom washing his face before facing his authoritarian audience outside. The officer that found him told him that he should go downstairs now or he will beat him. Mr Secky replied that he would defend himself if the officer was to try to harm him, so the officer took it upon himself to start beating Mr Secky with his standard issue baton. Within a few seconds the brawl was over and sadly Mr Secky was dead. He had fallen from a fourth floor window and had died instantly. The witnesses had become afraid of the consequences when the fight had started so they began to leave, therefore were not sure exactly what had happened. The police claim that Mr Secky had jumped out of the window in a desperate attempt to escape. The residents on the other hand believe otherwise.

Police raids of migrants’ homes in Tangiers

This is a report by a UK No Borders Activist currently in Tangiers on his experience of being at a Sub-saharan African migrants’ house in Tangiers while it was being raided by Moroccan Police, who are funded by the EU. 

Having your door kicked open and police officers come storming into your home early in the morning is not an uncommon thing for a migrant household in Tangier. In fact this can happen at least once every week, so much so that the residents of the house will just leave the doors open most often just so they dont have to keep repairing them. The reason for this is to catch out any migrant that may be in Morocco without papers. If such person were to be found then they would be detained for up to 2 days before being taken to the nearest border, which for Tangier is Oujda, the border town close to Algeria.

Moroccan Police Routinely Rape Female-bodied Sub-Saharan Migrants

Today via Skype Ebrima Badamassi in Tangiers reports that a Congolese woman that he knows was raped two months ago by five Moroccan police officers.

The woman was raped while she was being detained and en-route to the desert at Oujda, near the Algerian border. Ebrima report that the police officers who deliver detained migrants to “deport” them to Algeria regularly separate the women from the men.

After having dumped the men in in the desert – which in itself is a massive violation of human rights and international law – the police then tell the women that if they have sex with the officers they will be taken back to Tangiers or the other big cities where they were detained.

BBC Interviews No-Border-Activist in Tangier

Ebrima (pronounced “Ibrihim”) Badamassi, a Gambian refugee and one of the founding members of No Borders Morocco, features in this BBC Newsnight report by Paul Mason on the human rights abuses being funded by the EU in Morocco carried out by the Moroccan police against migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa.

EU is funding human rights abuses behind the razor wire

ARTICLE BY PAUL MASON of The Guardian

Ibrahim, from Gambia, paddled into what he thought were Spanish waters and phoned the coastguard, demanding to be rescued. They handed him to the Moroccan coastguard and he’s now in Tangier. Amadou, from Cameroon, had tried to scale the border fence into the Spanish enclave of Melilla. “The Moroccan cops beat us with their batons,” he says. He was taken across the border with Algeria, near the city of Oujda 75 miles (120km) away, and dumped there with 35 others. Now back in Morocco, he lives rough, in a forest, reliant on the local mosque for food.

Gathering testimony from these men, and others like them, is not easy. They hide in the slums and forests. They bear the trademark scars I have seen on destitute migrants on all the borders of Europe: scars from racist beatings; scars from scrambling across rubble to escape the police. They have the deep fatigue and torn clothing that come with a life lived mainly under starlight.

Demonstration at the Spanish Embassy in Holland

On Thursday 08/08/13 during the No Borders camp in Rotterdam from 3 to 10 August 2013, we held a demonstration outside the Embassy of Spain and the Representation of the Commission of the European Union in The Hague in the Netherlands.

On the one hand this demonstration was organized to protest against the latest events that have occurred at the border fence to  and denounce the eccentric behavior of the Spanish police who have arrested and deported sub-Saharan exiles to Moroccan territory regardless of danger that awaited them. On the other hand the demonstration also denounced cooperation between the European Union and Morocco on border management.